Feature by Joanna Brichetto

The Art of Marriage: A Guide to Living Life as Two by Catherine Blyth begins with a chapter in defense of the married state. Happily, this tone is sustained through the succeeding sections that detail, in great range and depth, every possible marital menace: in-laws, child-rearing, money, work, friends, fading desire, cheating and fighting. Glimpsing the enormity of what can go wrong might...

Feature by Joanna Brichetto

Our new Lifestyles column begins with three smart writers. Whether advising readers on how to save money, how to grow memories with grandkids or how to plan a sane wedding, all aim to increase quality of life—not a bad way to start a year.Think big, save bigElisabeth Leamy, consumer correspondent for “Good Morning America,” advises a radical shift in how we think about saving...

Feature by Joanna Brichetto

Getting married is big business in America. The wedding industry accounts for an estimated $70 billion to $125 billion chunk of our economy, most of which is spent on things destined to be used once and discarded. The dress, the invitations, the party favors, gift-wrap and alas, sometimes the gifts themselves are one-use-only commodities. The less visible aspects can be wasteful, too: consider...